Haines cross-country runners lost ground but gained important experience at last weekend’s state cross-country championship at Anchorage’s Bartlett High School.

Two runners improved their personal best times, but a hilly race course slowed most of the field, said coach Chandler Kemp.

“The course was pretty challenging. It has a lot of hills. It was also pretty muddy. Some of our kids didn’t have spikes, which also made it more challenging,” Kemp said.

Freshman Mark Davis and classmate Carson Crager improved their times by a few seconds each.

Davis, who finished third for Haines in 18:57, said sophomore Kirby Faverty, who finished second for Haines, served as a beacon for him. “It was nice for me to just kind of see Kirby. I figured if I could just see him, I’d do better than my previous time. That worked for me.”

Sophomore Siyel George led Haines boys.

Sophomore Marirose Evenden and freshman Hannah Boron represented Haines girls, qualifying for the meet individually. Evenden finished in 23:50, 58th of 138 runners. Boron was 64th in 24:06.

Boron said despite a cold that slowed her down, she was satisfied with her run. “I exceeded my expectations for being sick. In better conditions, I think I would have been in the 50s (among finishers).”

Grace Christian won the Alaska small schools title for girls. Petersburg placed fourth and Sitka was seventh.

Boron said with the addition of new runners next year from eighth grade, she expected the girls’ team would qualify for state next year. “I’m excited for what next year will bring.”

Kemp said the two-day van trip to Anchorage just before the meet factored into performances. Next time, he said, he would make more van stops and keep a cooler of water on board. “I’ve learned some things.”

Kemp, who said he expects to be coaching again next year, said competing at state should help his young squad. “Seeing how fast other people run will open some eyes in terms of what they’re able to do… I’m very excited. Nearly everybody who went to state were freshman and sophomores, so it’s a bright future for the Haines cross-country team.”

Haines boys finishes included: 1) Siyel George (23rd in 17:50), 2) Kirby Faverty (57th in 18:40), 3) Mark Davis (66th in 18:57), 4) sophomore Carver Culbeck (84th in 19:22), 5) junior Patrick Cunningham (88th in 19:28), sophomore Odin Jacobson (90th in 19:29) and Carson Crager (96th in 19:41).

Team members Kamakana Kanahele, Brennan Palmieri, and Izak Miller ran a time trial on the course following the championship.

Anchorage Christian won the small school title for boys. Sitka placed fourth, Petersburg ninth and Haines, tenth.